A BRITISH oil executive's wife threw herself to her death from the balcony of their hotel room after they got involved in an argument with her parents whilst on a family holiday in Greece.

A woman threw herself to death from the balcony of the hotel room after an argument with her husband

Denniel Higginson, 38, clambered over a rail and plunged four storeys despite desperate attempts by her engineer husband Steve to save her.

In the moments before she fell, Mr Higginson went to grab his Australian wife's hands pleading: "Please baby don't do this - don't let go of me" but she slipped out of his grasp and fell to the ground below.

Mrs Higginson - known to friends as Dee - was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead due to multiple injuries.

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British police were asked to investigate the 1am tragedy in Athens after the parents of Mrs Higginson filed a statement claiming her husband was "controlling" and had "driven her" to her death.

Police flew out to Athens to speak to Greek authorities and the hotel manager but concluded the glamorous blonde had killed herself.

The hearing was told Mr Higginson, originally from Altrincham, Greater Manchester had met his wife through a dating website in 2014 after he went to work in Perth, Australia.

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Denniel Higginson clambered over a rail and plunged four storeys while on a family holiday in Greece

Other people were watching from below but nobody came to help

Steve Higginson

They married in November 2014 and moved to Dubai in January 2015 when he got a job offer working as an oil and gas quality manager before the couple moved again to an apartment in Dohar, Qatar the following May.

But housewife Mrs Higginson was said to be unhappy at her new life and suffered a miscarriage.

Tragedy struck on July 19, 2015 when the Higginsons went on holiday with her parents Jennifer and Dennis.

Insp Roger Edwards of Greater Manchester Police told the Stockport hearing: "The holiday had been fraught and on the day of her death there was tension within the group. That evening, they went for dinner in the centre of Athens.

"Denniel and her mother went for a walk and went missing for over 90 minutes. This was worrying to the two men and when they caught up with the two ladies there were words between Mr Higginson and Denniel's father.

"Mr Higginson and his wife went back to their hotel room and were sitting on the balcony as he explained why he was upset. Mr Higginson then left Denniel on the balcony as he went to the toilet. As he left the toilet he could see her in the process of climbing over the balcony.

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Steve Higginson went to grab his Australian wife's hands pleading her to not jump

"She brought her left leg and then her right leg over the balcony. By the time Mr Higginson got there she was hanging off the balcony.

"He tried to stop her and there was shouting between the pair which alerted Denniel's father who was in the room adjacent. Mr Higginson shouted 'please baby don't do this - don't let go of me'.

"Mr Higginson said he didn't know what was going through her mind, it just came from nowhere. He and Denniel's father both had her arms and were trying to hold her.

"Other people were watching from below but nobody came to help. Mr Higginson was tired and his hands were hot and sweaty."

The hearing was told Mrs Higginson's body was flown to the UK for a post mortem and police questioned her husband over the tragedy.

Insp Edwards added: "I received two statements from Denniel's parents as they believed Denniel had been driven to her death by her husband. They claimed he was a controlling individual. We made contact with the Greek authorities to see if our investigations paralleled, flew to Athens and spoke to the hotel's general manager and the Greek police.

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The parents of Mrs Higginson filed a statement claiming her husband had "driven her" to her death

"We visited the room where Denniel and her husband were staying and found that Mr Higginson's account was consistent with the way the room was laid out.

"He would have had a clear view of the balcony from the toilet. We visited the Greek police at their offices and their investigation was broadly similar to what Mr Higginson told us. The Greek Police believe this was suicide and no criminal charges are present against anyone."

Acting Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley said a post mortem examination by pathologist, Charles Wilson said Mrs Higginson had been drinking on the evening of her death which "may have affected her normal behaviour".

Recording a conclusion of suicide she added: "I cannot find any evidence of any third party involvement in this case. I believe Denniel's actions were spontaneous and despite the efforts of her husband and father she fell to her death which was caused by multiple injuries.

"I am satisfied that she has taken her own life. She climbed over the balcony and despite efforts from her family, she fell over the balcony. I hope this verdict may give some closure to the family and I offer my condolences."

Mr Higginson attended the hearing but left without comment.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see Samaritans for details.